Racing the Sun

If there is anything worse than hot, sticky, humid weather, it's hot, sticky, humid weather AFTER a week of cool and rainy days.

We had our long run scheduled for this weekend, and we decided to get up and go before church. Ten miles. Saturday was sticky and nasty, and felt all the worse since we had slightly adjusted to cooler weather.

This time the early alarm clock worked, and we were out the door by 6:00. It had rained overnight, so the air still had that wet feeling to it, but the sun wasn't quite up yet to make it steamy.

The majority of this run takes us down 2-lane "pike" roads (old toll roads, now typically the to-and-from routes from town to town). This is the road that got us last time we tried to do a long run in town. This run was much easier, and we credited the early start to that.

About four miles in, Ted reminded me we needed to be back into our town and off this road by the time the sun was really up above the horizon. The temperature would increase, as would the humidity (or so we feared). So our long run turned into a race...against the feared oppressive temperatures and failure to complete the run.

We made it back. We finished this 10-miler in about the same time we did Broad Street last May--and our route is a lot hillier than Broad Street. If someone had told me that I was in as good shape now as I was then, I'm not sure I would have believed them. But apparently I am--we are--and that meant a lot to realize that.

I think the best thing about this, besides having a great long run, is that, for the first time, I finished thinking "I can do this marathon thing." I admit, I had some real doubting moments earlier. A few really hard (yet short) runs caused me to wonder how I could ever do four or five times that amount. Yet while I was tired and felt the strain after this run, I honestly could see where I had it in me to run the 26.2 miles, and I feel confident that I'll get there.

A Whole New Week

Why is it when life gets busy, the first thing that gets pushed aside is more than likely the most important thing to keep you on track? Running is the one activity that keeps me grounded, reduces my stress, helps me sleep, and just renews my confidence. So when life gets crazy, why is that the first thing that gets shifted or moved around or put on the back burner?

Last week Ted and I were craft gurus at our church's Vacation Bible School, which was held in the evenings after work. And my dad was coming over the weekend, and the house was no where near ready for company (family or otherwise). Ted's grandfather passed away last Sunday, and on top of that, the humid temperatures hindered any sort of excessive running before the Bible School commitment, and afterwards it was just a bit too late to get any sort of good run in. I did what cleaning I could between dinner and Bible School, and left lists of chores for Dave to do during the day.

Unfortunately, the running was what took the hit. We got out twice last week, and totally ignored the 10-mile run we were supposed to do on Saturday. With my father in from Pittsburgh, who is normally an early riser, I had wanted to be up and out the door by 6:15 for the run. When we still hadn't gotten up at ten till 7, I suggested to Ted we bypass it. I didn't want to leave my father for half the morning (I could already hear him stirring around in the front bedroom) and we had big gardening plans for the rest of the day. The past week had already been a lousy running week, so we finished it off likewise and promised for a nice successful running week starting now.

And so far, so good. We went out last night, and despite the rain, the cooler temperatures (almost chilly) felt good. We had one of the best times ever on our little loop--one of those runs where you think "Why can't I do that in a race?"

So it's nice to have a normal week again, where we can commit ourselves to good runs, quiet evenings, and catch up on movies or groceries or whatever everyday activities got brushed aside. And return to activities that should never have been ignored in the first place.

Jump! Jump!

This weekend was the weekend for jumps.

Jump #1--Temperatures

Okay, so technically I guess this would be more of a fall. But it's still a move, and maybe it could be considered a jump down. The 90+ degree heat of the past few weeks moved out Friday, and Ted and I woke up Saturday morning to beautiful, barely-60 degree weather. And a long run calling. With T-shirts. :-) The urge for naked running finally passed!

Jump #2--Long Runs

Up until this point in marathon training, we have only run as far as 5 miles. We were supposed to do 7 miles one day, but it was a miserable, hot, humid, sticky day and we only did 5 that day. So Saturday was 9 miles, and everything was lined up for no excuses--the weather was gorgeous, the day was quiet, we felt good. I treated Ted to a run on the trail...not the trails I like, but the old railroad-converted-to-running-trails. Which I have learned I have quite the love-hate relationship with. I loved the cool air, the shade, the colors of the flowers and the trees. I hate the monotony of it. And not knowing exactly where I am, so I don't know exactly how far I have to go. All in all, the run was good. We averaged a good pace for us, despite definite peaks and valleys in the run. So I feel positive about the 10-mile we have looming in our future for this weekend...

Jump #3--Dave's Triathlon

Dave competed in his third triathlon this weekend. Why is this such a big accomplishment? Ted promised him Cold Stone ice cream after his third triathlon. Ted isn't one to go back on his promises--Not like Dave or myself would let him in this case!

Jump #4--The Concert

One of the greatest things about training is the increased recovery time. And fortunately, by Saturday night, any hints of a long run which was increased about 45% longer than we were used to had disappeared. Ted and I pulled on our boots and hat (well, I pulled on my boots and hat...Ted isn't quite the cowboy...but did enjoy wearing mine most of the evening) and had a guitar-strumming, country rock kind of night to Big & Rich at Musikfest in Bethlehem. We had treated ourselves and purchased amazing seats, and they only got better then security backed off for the last two songs, and allowed the crowd to rush up front. After many concerts of sitting up on the top and watching this occur from a bird's eye view, Ted was prepared and saw it coming, allowing us to get a jump start and position ourselves right up front. This allowed me not only to swoon over my guitar-picking hero, but to get pieces of the smashed guitar after the show, along with an autographed picture (handed out by stage hands, but whatever).

Never Say Never

One of my favorite reasons for running has always been "You never return from a run feeling worse than when you left". I may leave for a run moaning and groaning, and I'll whine the whole way through it, but typically when I return, I'm happy I did it.

Until Saturday.

Ted, Dave, and I went to Sea Isle City for the weekend. Saturday morning we were scheduled for a measly 5 miles. Dave was doing the 10-mile island run, so Ted and I got up early to get our mileage in before he was awake. I wanted to wake up at 7:00 and go.

We got up at 8:30.

At 8:30, the sun was already high and hot. But it was 5 miles. We have done that recently, we have gone farther than that recently. It shouldn't have been a problem, or even a hindrance. And I could eat all my boardwalk food that night guilt free.

Let me say, I have NEVER loathed a run so much in my life.

The route I had planned had us leaving the house, turning right and running 9 blocks down to 69th Street, then up to Central, back to 29th, then up the boardwalk to the house. And it's flat in New Jersey. It shouldn't be a problem.

I think I would rather be running on a treadmill.

At least a treadmill would have been in a climate-controlled area. I'm used to running routes where you just go. Running in Sea Isle--every street is marked. So you see the street signs slowly counting down--69th. 68th. 67th. The. Whole. Way. To. 29th.

We made it back. We walked and allowed ourselves that luxury to help get through it. The boardwalk was a little better...more to look at, the ocean is lovely, however, there are many more people in much better shape than I out at that time, also running, and looking like they've never broken a sweat in their life. Meanwhile, I'm huffing along, barely picking my feet up, soaked from sweat and water I've dumped all over myself.

And all for five miles.

Even when we returned to the house, I wasn't happy I did that. Half an hour later, I was still thinking how miserable it was and how it would have been great to just relax on the beach for that time.

So I was a bit jaded from my old philosophy of "You never return from a run feeling worse than when you left."

The only bit of joy I had from that run? Filling it in on the run log. So, when all else fails, the run log is there, holding you accountable.

The Itch.

The weather this week in the Philadelphia region is wicked. It's hot, and as the week goes on, it's humid. Monday was hot. Ted, Dave, and I ran 5 miles at 8:00, and it was actually pretty pleasant--the sun had set enough and humidity was low.

But each day has been increasingly more and more humid. And our runs have gotten later and later.

The 5-mile run on Monday was very nice--it wasn't hard and we ran at a nice, comfortable pace.

And it gave me the overwhelming urge for fall, to get back to the cool mornings and long runs.

As seasons change, I trumpet about how this is my favorite season for running. In April, Spring is my favorite! Come September, Fall is my favorite! But as years go by, I realize that Fall is my best season, performance-wise. I can run much easier when the temperatures cool, and my body reacts alot more favorably to a 10 degree drop in temperatures versus a 10 degree increase. And I recall, quite fondly, long runs last fall, with just enough chill in the air to keep the body temperature at bay.

And I'm ready for that to come back! I'm ready for long runs again. But I can't do the long runs the way I want to do them until the temperatures drop a little.

So for now, we'll keep with the training schedule, doing the mileage we are supposed to do when we are supposed to do it, hoping to be rewarded in six weeks' time with cooler temperatures--and longer runs.